We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you
buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:
Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness.
Our editors reviewed potency, ingredients, and third-party testing to choose the best CBD oils for anxiety. Check out the full list below, which includes oils from Aspen Green, FOCL, and more.
Healthline has sole editorial control over this article. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. The information in this article is intended to be general in nature. It’s not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Although research into its effects is ongoing, some studies suggest that it may be able to help ease symptoms of conditions such as chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety.
If you’ve been considering grabbing a bottle of CBD oil to ease worry and stress, you may have found yourself surprised — maybe even overwhelmed — by all the choices out there, not to mention the vocabulary. What the heck is a terpene, anyway?
Although nothing makes one CBD oil better than another at reducing anxiety, you stand to gain the most benefit by choosing a quality product. We’ve done the research to help you choose a CBD oil or tincture that fits your needs, including some that contain other ingredients that may help bring about a sense of calm.
While we’ve highlighted a few specific flavor options in this article, many of the products featured come in additional flavors. You can find these listed below to help you find the best CBD oil for anxiety for your needs and preferences.
Research on CBD and its use for anxiety and depression is ongoing. Large-scale clinical trials are needed to determine effective doses for specific conditions.
But a 2020 review of existing studies concludes that CBD has potential for treating anxiety disorders such as:
Here are a few potential ways that CBD oil may benefit anxiety:
Improved sleep: Some individuals with anxiety struggle to fall or stay asleep. A 2023 systematic review suggested that CBD, either alone or paired with THC, may improve insomnia and sleep. Plus, a different 2023 systematic review explored how CBD may reduce nightmares, which can also be linked with anxiety.
Improved focus: If you have anxiety, you may find it hard to focus on the tasks at hand. A systematic review from 2023 found that CBD might improve cognitive processing, which includes mental capabilities like memory, focus, and logical thinking. However, these findings were based on animal studies.
Improved physical symptoms: Anxiety can be linked with a range of physical symptoms. Early studies are exploring how CBD may improve anxiety-related symptoms like digestion and pain.
Reduced overall anxiety: A systematic review from 2020 found that CBD appeared to improve anxiety in individuals with anxiety disorders with minimal to no side effects. Another 2020 systematic review made the same conclusions.
Importantly, all these studies emphasize that current evidence is not conclusive and that more research is needed to learn more about how CBD may affect health and well-being, including anxiety. If you have any questions about anxiety or anxiety treatment, it’s best to talk with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.
The studies referenced above have used doses of 0.5–800 mg per day of CBD.
Because of this large span, and because CBD is not regulated by the FDA, it’s best to follow the recommended CBD dosage of the product you are using. This often ranges from 20–50 mg per day.
Consider starting with a smaller dose if you’re new to CBD. Then, if you need to, you can gradually increase how much to take. You should not exceed the recommended dosage without first talking with a healthcare professional.
Typically, CBD oil labeling will instruct you to place the desired amount of CBD oil under your tongue and keep it there for 20 seconds to a few minutes before swallowing. To keep your oil dropper clean, avoid touching it with your hands or mouth.
How long CBD takes to work is not completely clear. You may feel the immediate effects of the oil, like sleepiness, within 30–90 minutes. You may notice longer-term effects, like reduced anxiety, after several weeks.
You’ve got a lot of options when it comes to choosing the best CBD oil for anxiety. Here are a few factors to consider when shopping for CBD oil for anxiety:
At a minimum, look for a product that has been third-party tested. Reputable CBD companies will send out their products to accredited third-party labs to be tested. Then, they’ll make the testing results available to the public through COAs.
Compare the COA with the product label and make sure it actually contains the amount of CBD and THC it says it does. You can also verify that it doesn’t have dangerous levels of contaminants such as molds, pesticides, and heavy metals.
Consider your personal preferences and needs. If anxiety keeps you up at night, a CBD product that contains calming ingredients might be helpful. But if anxiety is more prevalent during your out-and-about hours, you might prefer a low potency CBD you can take on the go, upping your dose as needed.
Think about CBD type. Keep in mind that if you’re hoping for an entourage effect of all the phytocannabinoids and terpenes working together, you’ll want a full-spectrum product. A broad-spectrum option will offer other cannabis plant benefits but won’t include any THC. A CBD isolate product will contain no THC and no other cannabinoids or plant compounds. So, if exposure to anything but CBD is a concern, opt for an isolate.
Don’t forget about taste. If the smell or taste of cannabis is a turnoff, you may prefer a flavored product to mask any overt earthiness.
Before trying CBD for anxiety, talk with a healthcare professional or a knowledgeable cannabis clinician, especially if you’re taking any medications. CBD may interact with certain prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins or supplements.
CBD may also cause liver toxicity or injury, according to a 2019 study. However, this study was conducted on mice, and researchers say you would need to be taking extremely high doses for this to be a concern.
One more thing: Use caution when consuming CBD along with high fat meals. Fats can increase CBD blood concentrations, increasing the risk of side effects, according to a 2020 study.
CBD oils and tinctures are best taken under your tongue. Use the dropper to measure your desired dose, and then squeeze the drops under the tongue. Hold the liquid there for about 20 seconds before swallowing.
The serving size is usually the size of the dropper. A 1-oz (30-mL) bottle with 1,200 mg of CBD will deliver 30 servings of 40 mg per mL.
But that doesn’t mean you have to take a full dropper or stick to just one dropper. If you’re new to CBD, start with a smaller dose to see how it affects you before trying more.
CBD by itself does not have any psychoactive properties, so it doesn’t make you feel “high.” The cannabinoid that does give you the “high” feeling is THC, and while some CBD oils contain small amounts of THC, it’s typically not enough to give you that sensation.
However, CBD products containing 5–10 mg of THC per mL per unit are available, so there is potential to experience impairment.
If you don’t want to ingest traces of THC, it may be best to avoid CBD oils that contain them altogether. You can shop for isolate CBD products, which do not contain any THC.
CBD is generally reported to be safe, but side effects are possible. These may include changes in appetite and weight, fatigue, and diarrhea.
More evidence is needed before researchers can conclude that CBD can help with anxiety. There is a lack of large-scale clinical human trials that study the potential of CBD to treat mood disorders.
However, several studies suggest that CBD might have anti-anxiety effects. More research is needed to learn more about CBD’s therapeutic potential.
There is currently a lack of clinical trials on using CBD for anxiety, so there’s no consensus on how long it takes for CBD to start working.
However, in a 2018 study on using CBD for social anxiety, participants were given CBD before undergoing a simulated public speaking test. The study concluded that 300 mg of CBD administered orally 90 minutes before the test significantly reduced the participants’ anxiety.
Researchers are still studying how CBD might help ease anxiety and depression. If you’ve been considering trying CBD oil to see whether it makes you feel more relaxed in times of stress or in your day-to-day, we hope our list of fully vetted recommendations helps you choose the best CBD oil that fits your needs.
Remember to talk with a healthcare professional first, especially if you already take any medications or supplements.
Is CBD legal? The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC legal at the federal level. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them illegal at the federal level. Some states have legalized CBD, so be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
Last medically reviewed on April 18, 2024
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Bomfim AJdL, et al. (2023). Effects of the acute and chronic administration of cannabidiol on cognition in humans and animals: A systematic review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37792394
Crockett J, et al. (2020). A phase 1, randomized, pharmacokinetic trial of the effect of different meal compositions, whole milk, and alcohol on cannabidiol exposure and safety in healthy subjects. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/epi.16419
Skeie-Larsen M, et al. (2023). The effects of pharmacological treatment of nightmares: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9820008/
